biomass
Biomass refers to the organic material produced by living organisms, particularly the total mass of plant matter generated through growth and photosynthesis. In plant science, biomass is a key measure of productivity and carbon capture capacity, reflecting how efficiently plants convert sunlight and nutrients into organic compounds. Researchers study biomass accumulation to improve crop yields, understand ecosystem dynamics, and develop sustainable sources of energy and raw materials.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-04-22
This study creates a framework for evaluating how long different plant-based carbon storage methods actually keep carbon out of the atmosphere. It finds that durability varies enormously depending on both the type of carbon material (crop waste, wood, biochar) and where and how it is stored underground or on the surface.
Carbon durability varies widely based on two axes: the chemical form of the carbon product (raw biomass vs. thermochemically converted products like biochar or bio-oils) and the storage fate (surface, dry, shallow anoxic, or deep/geologic anoxic storage).
Thermochemically converted products such as biochars and bio-oils are more chemically resistant to decay than raw agricultural residues or municipal solid waste, making them inherently more durable carbon stores.
Deep or geologic anoxic storage (injection underground) offers the greatest long-term stability, while surface storage carries the highest risk of carbon re-release, regardless of feedstock type.
